K, again, for all of you who reviewed, thanks and I apologize for the long long long delay. And you're gonna be mad at me after you read this cuz its just like a transitional chapter. I needed to safely switch from one subject, to another without the story getting all chopped up. Again, sorry. Here you go.
They had decided to skip dancing (which the boys were very thankful for) and just head home. It was relatively early when they arrived at the Black residence, yet Ana decided that she wanted to go to bed. No one blamed her since she was so worn out from the weeks activities and she was now so emotionally spent that she needed rest desperately. When Sirius got to his kitchen he noticed that Lily's owl was back and it was accompanied by another owl. It looked as though it were Remus's. Lily took her letter and Sirius took his from Romulus. That was what Remus had named his owl. Apparently Remus was bored out of his mind and wanted to know if he could come hang out with the rest of the gang before they left for the camp tomorrow. Sirius replied with an "of course, but bring your broom and go by floo." Lily's letter was a little different.
Dear Lily,
I understand about your not wanting to come. The fact of the matter is this: I'm in trouble. They don't think I'm responding to my medication the way I should be. They need substantiated proof that I've improved and what better way than by seeing me interact with the person who my aggression was geared towards, right? They say if my medication doesn't produce the desired results soon enough then they're going to have to up my dosage, which means, under the agreement with the courts, my time here will be increased as well. I hate to put this on you, I really do, but I need help and you're the only one who can give it to me. Please let me know your answer as soon as possible.
Thanks,
Petunia
After reading her letter, Lily folded it back up and brought it to her room. James was still outside at the moment so he couldn't ask any questions. She sat on her bed for a minute trying to straighten things out a little bit. James was interested in her. Petunia wanted to see her. What was going on? Did Petunia really want to see her? Was she just using Lily so she didn't have to get stronger meds? She couldn't wait for tomorrow when the boys left so she could talk to Ana. For the time being though, she would have to put the letter out of her mind and deal with the situation at hand. Speaking of the situation at hand, Sirius had just made his way to her room. "What's up? Who's that from, Petunia?" She shifted uneasily for a moment and tried to sound as if she were ok. "Oh, yah that was her. You know, just talking about the weather and everything, heh." He nodded and went to his room. Soon after this footsteps could be heard coming up the stairs. It was either James or Remus and right now Lily was hoping it was the latter. She didn't want James to find out about the letter and since he could read her facial expressions like a book, it was almost inevitable if he came in to talk.
"Hey, what's up?" It was James. "Not much," Lily smiled as he sat down in her desk chair. "So..." he began, trying to fill the void. "Rather eventful night, wouldn't you say?" He was fidgeting with his shirttail, which was somewhat odd due to his outgoing attitude earlier. "What? Are we going to be shy now? James, dear, I think we're a little past that now." Lily smiled at how comfortable she now felt with him since they had both expressed their feelings. "Yah well, I wasn't sure if you were weirded out or what. Remus is coming over." He looked up from his shirt to see Lily staring out the window. "Something wrong?" She snapped out of it and she immediately felt nervous. "No, why do you ask?" It didn't sound like a calm voice and she knew it. James just looked at her curiously, "I don't know, you just...seem a little distant right now I guess. You sure nothing's wrong?" She just smiled and got up. "Yes, I'm sure. Don't worry about me, I'm fine. I think that's Remus now." She offered her hand to help him up and they headed downstairs.
The group played a few games of exploding snap and wizard chess before James and Sirius had realized that they had to get up early tomorrow. Remus left, but not before making plans to hang out with Lily during the week and Sirius went to bed. "I guess you should be going to bed soon. You have to get up early and go to quidditch camp." She had forgotten the whole reason why they had gone out to dinner that night right until that point. James would be gone for almost two months. It's not like she couldn't live without him there, she just wished she could spend the summer with her best friend. It seemed as though James had just remembered this as well for his happy mood turned a little less cheerful when she said it. "Oh, yah. I almost forgot. I'm kind of thinking about not going. You know with my potions essays not done and that's my whole summer just gone... And... I'd miss you." He added quickly and waited for a response. She smiled at the sweetness of his intentions, "James, I'm going to miss you too, but Sirius would club you to death with his broom if you ever let this opportunity pass by just for some girl. It won't be that long," she couldn't keep from showing that she didn't even believe her own statement, but she continued, "Besides, we're going to see each other at school for the rest of the year."
About that time the conversation was stopped by Ana, who had gotten up for a drink. "James, that better not be you I see sitting on the couch next to Lily, or I'm going to get your broom and beat you with it. You better be in bed by the time I finish my drink." James just rolled his eyes and said goodnight to Lily. "You sure you don't want me to stay? You're always telling me how important it is to keep up my grades." James pleaded. Lily just smiled and said, "Good night," and with that he kissed her and went to bed. Shortly thereafter, Lily followed his example.
Sleep was only a short interval of days that night and with the blink of an eye Lily was awake again, staring at the white ceiling above her. It was so pure and clean, she wanted to drink it in while the morning rays illuminated it so. She had woken up ten minutes before her alarm was set to go off and for that she was thankful. Being jolted awake to the incessant beeping of a little time devouring monster was not her idea of starting the day on a good note. She breathed deeply as the feelings of summer swept through her. Lily could taste the humidity in the air. It was going to be an oppressive day in more ways than one. Eventually she got up and dressed. Judging by the sounds coming from outside her door, the rest of the household was up. Soon enough there was a knock on the door. "Hey, I was just coming in to see if you were up. What do you want for breakfast? Mum's cooking us some sort of goodbye-meal. She hasn't stopped crying." Sirius was in good spirits, already in his training gear since they were only going to the portkey down the street and then they would be at the field. "My, Sirius, those socks are quite...you." Lily stifled a laugh as she took in the sight that was Sirius's multi colored, striped tube socks. He just grinned proudly. "So what do you want?" "Well, I think some toast would be fine." She breathed in slowly. Ugh, Petunia, she had forgotten. Lily's whole countenance changed within the second of having that thought. "Just toast? Are you ok? It was the letter wasn't it? I didn't want to pry, but Lily, if something is wrong, I'm always here, you know." "I'm fine, just not too hungry at the moment. Trust me, by lunch I'll be starved. I'll be down in a minute." Taking that as his cue to leave, Sirius shut the door behind him.
He was halfway down the stairs when he looked back for a second. Last time she said she was fine, she wasn't. That's all Sirius could remember. He turned his gaze back in front of him where he met James. "Hey, what're you looking at?" "Nothing, I was just thinking if I had left anything upstairs." He couldn't worry James before they left. He knew it was what James really wanted; any reason he could get just to stay with Lily. He would tell his mum...
Breakfast was a very solemn meal for everyone but Sirius. He had been waiting the whole school year for this day and he was almost bursting with anticipation. Lily and Ana were sad to see the boys go. James was sad to leave Lily and Ana. The four of them walked to the portkey together and they said their good-byes. "I'll write you everyday." James promised and sealed it with a kiss. Lily just smiled and made him promise to have fun as well. And so began the two months of emptiness.
They had decided to skip dancing (which the boys were very thankful for) and just head home. It was relatively early when they arrived at the Black residence, yet Ana decided that she wanted to go to bed. No one blamed her since she was so worn out from the weeks activities and she was now so emotionally spent that she needed rest desperately. When Sirius got to his kitchen he noticed that Lily's owl was back and it was accompanied by another owl. It looked as though it were Remus's. Lily took her letter and Sirius took his from Romulus. That was what Remus had named his owl. Apparently Remus was bored out of his mind and wanted to know if he could come hang out with the rest of the gang before they left for the camp tomorrow. Sirius replied with an "of course, but bring your broom and go by floo." Lily's letter was a little different.
Dear Lily,
I understand about your not wanting to come. The fact of the matter is this: I'm in trouble. They don't think I'm responding to my medication the way I should be. They need substantiated proof that I've improved and what better way than by seeing me interact with the person who my aggression was geared towards, right? They say if my medication doesn't produce the desired results soon enough then they're going to have to up my dosage, which means, under the agreement with the courts, my time here will be increased as well. I hate to put this on you, I really do, but I need help and you're the only one who can give it to me. Please let me know your answer as soon as possible.
Thanks,
Petunia
After reading her letter, Lily folded it back up and brought it to her room. James was still outside at the moment so he couldn't ask any questions. She sat on her bed for a minute trying to straighten things out a little bit. James was interested in her. Petunia wanted to see her. What was going on? Did Petunia really want to see her? Was she just using Lily so she didn't have to get stronger meds? She couldn't wait for tomorrow when the boys left so she could talk to Ana. For the time being though, she would have to put the letter out of her mind and deal with the situation at hand. Speaking of the situation at hand, Sirius had just made his way to her room. "What's up? Who's that from, Petunia?" She shifted uneasily for a moment and tried to sound as if she were ok. "Oh, yah that was her. You know, just talking about the weather and everything, heh." He nodded and went to his room. Soon after this footsteps could be heard coming up the stairs. It was either James or Remus and right now Lily was hoping it was the latter. She didn't want James to find out about the letter and since he could read her facial expressions like a book, it was almost inevitable if he came in to talk.
"Hey, what's up?" It was James. "Not much," Lily smiled as he sat down in her desk chair. "So..." he began, trying to fill the void. "Rather eventful night, wouldn't you say?" He was fidgeting with his shirttail, which was somewhat odd due to his outgoing attitude earlier. "What? Are we going to be shy now? James, dear, I think we're a little past that now." Lily smiled at how comfortable she now felt with him since they had both expressed their feelings. "Yah well, I wasn't sure if you were weirded out or what. Remus is coming over." He looked up from his shirt to see Lily staring out the window. "Something wrong?" She snapped out of it and she immediately felt nervous. "No, why do you ask?" It didn't sound like a calm voice and she knew it. James just looked at her curiously, "I don't know, you just...seem a little distant right now I guess. You sure nothing's wrong?" She just smiled and got up. "Yes, I'm sure. Don't worry about me, I'm fine. I think that's Remus now." She offered her hand to help him up and they headed downstairs.
The group played a few games of exploding snap and wizard chess before James and Sirius had realized that they had to get up early tomorrow. Remus left, but not before making plans to hang out with Lily during the week and Sirius went to bed. "I guess you should be going to bed soon. You have to get up early and go to quidditch camp." She had forgotten the whole reason why they had gone out to dinner that night right until that point. James would be gone for almost two months. It's not like she couldn't live without him there, she just wished she could spend the summer with her best friend. It seemed as though James had just remembered this as well for his happy mood turned a little less cheerful when she said it. "Oh, yah. I almost forgot. I'm kind of thinking about not going. You know with my potions essays not done and that's my whole summer just gone... And... I'd miss you." He added quickly and waited for a response. She smiled at the sweetness of his intentions, "James, I'm going to miss you too, but Sirius would club you to death with his broom if you ever let this opportunity pass by just for some girl. It won't be that long," she couldn't keep from showing that she didn't even believe her own statement, but she continued, "Besides, we're going to see each other at school for the rest of the year."
About that time the conversation was stopped by Ana, who had gotten up for a drink. "James, that better not be you I see sitting on the couch next to Lily, or I'm going to get your broom and beat you with it. You better be in bed by the time I finish my drink." James just rolled his eyes and said goodnight to Lily. "You sure you don't want me to stay? You're always telling me how important it is to keep up my grades." James pleaded. Lily just smiled and said, "Good night," and with that he kissed her and went to bed. Shortly thereafter, Lily followed his example.
Sleep was only a short interval of days that night and with the blink of an eye Lily was awake again, staring at the white ceiling above her. It was so pure and clean, she wanted to drink it in while the morning rays illuminated it so. She had woken up ten minutes before her alarm was set to go off and for that she was thankful. Being jolted awake to the incessant beeping of a little time devouring monster was not her idea of starting the day on a good note. She breathed deeply as the feelings of summer swept through her. Lily could taste the humidity in the air. It was going to be an oppressive day in more ways than one. Eventually she got up and dressed. Judging by the sounds coming from outside her door, the rest of the household was up. Soon enough there was a knock on the door. "Hey, I was just coming in to see if you were up. What do you want for breakfast? Mum's cooking us some sort of goodbye-meal. She hasn't stopped crying." Sirius was in good spirits, already in his training gear since they were only going to the portkey down the street and then they would be at the field. "My, Sirius, those socks are quite...you." Lily stifled a laugh as she took in the sight that was Sirius's multi colored, striped tube socks. He just grinned proudly. "So what do you want?" "Well, I think some toast would be fine." She breathed in slowly. Ugh, Petunia, she had forgotten. Lily's whole countenance changed within the second of having that thought. "Just toast? Are you ok? It was the letter wasn't it? I didn't want to pry, but Lily, if something is wrong, I'm always here, you know." "I'm fine, just not too hungry at the moment. Trust me, by lunch I'll be starved. I'll be down in a minute." Taking that as his cue to leave, Sirius shut the door behind him.
He was halfway down the stairs when he looked back for a second. Last time she said she was fine, she wasn't. That's all Sirius could remember. He turned his gaze back in front of him where he met James. "Hey, what're you looking at?" "Nothing, I was just thinking if I had left anything upstairs." He couldn't worry James before they left. He knew it was what James really wanted; any reason he could get just to stay with Lily. He would tell his mum...
Breakfast was a very solemn meal for everyone but Sirius. He had been waiting the whole school year for this day and he was almost bursting with anticipation. Lily and Ana were sad to see the boys go. James was sad to leave Lily and Ana. The four of them walked to the portkey together and they said their good-byes. "I'll write you everyday." James promised and sealed it with a kiss. Lily just smiled and made him promise to have fun as well. And so began the two months of emptiness.